Middleton Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (01 May 2022)

Sterling service from Middleton Band with Jamie Cooper behind the podium

No matter where they are in the national rankings or which section they are, Middleton Band never fail to give a great concert. Since East of the M60 began reviewing concerts, each concert of theirs has had an enjoyable mix of light-hearted pieces and technical works. Their latest one at the start of May 2022 was no exception.

Four Weeks in the Life of Fun Time Friday

How and why Stuart and Kevin were no April Fools in Future Directions’ most celebrated streamed sessions

“We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”

– An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley (1894 – 1984)

John Boynton Priestley could have preempted the arrival of Kevin Phoenix’s song Stronger Together. His quote from An Inspector Calls is in simple form, our need to be one happy family. He may well be looking to our time on Earth, the planet that Professor Carl Sagan called “the pale blue dot”.

Tintwistle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (24 April 2022)

Mallon and Co.’s entertaining show sees better all band performance

The last 12 months after a ban on organised concerts have been pretty tough for many brass bands. In a normal non-pandemic year, a year is a long time in brass banding. Players can move to other bands or pursue non-musical interests.  Income pressures can affect bar takings and subs as well as gaps in personnel. With less to go round, this affects ticket sales and competition entries.

Oldham and Tameside Bus Service Changes Extra (24 April 2022)

Two more late additions to the Spring 2022 service changes

In the last 24 hours, we have learned of two more service changes affecting Oldham and Tameside bus routes.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 24 April 2022

End of an era for two iconic bus routes with cuts to Chadderton bus route

How many black cats have the great travelling public of Oldham and Saddleworth run over to effect this spring’s set of changes? The latest set of service changes have seen Oldham and Rochdale at the sharpest end of the cutbacks.

Elland Silver Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 10 April 2022

Classy Elland Silver Band shine in a most entertaining concert

Of late, the brass banding gods have been smiling on those who go to brass band concerts in the South Pennines. Saturday night saw a welcome return to Uppermill Civic Hall for Black Dyke Band. Glossop Old Band Room finished off their season with Hammonds Band the following afternoon.

Boarshurst Silver Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 03 April 2022

A welcome home gig for Saddleworth’s highest ranked brass band

For the first time this year, Boarshurst Silver Band gave us all their first home gig. This was a week after their concert at Glossop Old Band Room and two weeks after their appearance at Mass Brass V. At Glossop Old Band Room, their afternoon concert was lauded by its attendees, though seen by fewer people than normal due to Mother’s Day. With Eccles Borough Band pulling out of last night’s concert with sufficient notice, our house band stepped into the breach.

Thoresby Colliery Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 27 March 2022

Paradise by the podium light for Nottinghamshire band’s visit to Saddleworth

In comparison with brass bands from Yorkshire, the North West and the North East, any concert with an East Midlands band (besides Glossop Old Band) at Boarshurst is a rarity. A special treat for the Band Club’s dedicated members, and a chance to win newcomers over to the club.

Hammonds Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 20 March 2022

Stunning concert shows off classiness

If your local band chose to do a Fantasy Brass Band League to raise money for the Nationals, there’s every chance your fantasy band will include the MD of Cory. Your line up might have the principal cornet player of Hammonds Band. It would have Elland Silver Band’s youth policy, and an in-house composer/arranger in Paul Lovatt-Cooper. There’s a good chance your Fantasy Brass Band might sound as good as last night’s band did at Boarshurst Band Club.

Stockport Silver Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 13 March 2022

Two years on, well worth the wait for Jim Hunter and Co.’s return gig

Who’d have thought two years ago that Stockport Silver Band wouldn’t have played a note in anger in March 2021? Two weeks on from Stockport Silver Band’s previous visit, the UK went into lockdown thanks to COVID. Two years on from their last concert at The Mecca of Brass Banding, our fellows from Shaw Heath were chomping at the chance to get back to brass banding. That of being able to play concerts and attend public gatherings. In short, bringing joy to its audiences, whether 10 months or 10 decades old.